Chapter 4: A Tangled Web

"Are you insane?" Sami hissed at EJ after he had closed the bedroom door behind them. "Why did you tell them we're engaged?"

"I don't know, I panicked." EJ admitted, running his hand through his hair. "I didn't expect to see Jane or Derrick here."

"So how do we want to play this?" Sami asked sighing as her simple plan of getting Jane and EJ back together went up in smoke. She understood that EJ needed her as a buffer against his feelings for Jane.

"I'm sorry for involving you into this mess." EJ apologized.

"Hey, what are friends for; it's nice to be the one helping you for once. Ok, let's think, what are our options?" Sami asked racking her brain and began pacing.

EJ dropped back first onto the bed and covered his face with one arm and groaned. How had a simple trip to NY become so complicated?

"Oh good idea, I always get the best ideas in bed." She said throwing herself next to him. "Don't worry, I'm on it." Sami assured missing the double entendre. "We could tell them it was a joke."

"I've never been much of a comedian." EJ said from under his arm.

"Yeah, it wouldn't put you in a very good light and we have to make you so irresistible to Jane that she's going to drop your brother like a hot potato and beg you to take her back." Sami said.

EJ rolled to his side propped himself with his elbow. "What!"

"You know our plan." Sami said.

"What plan?" EJ asked confused.

"You know, operation 'getting the love of your life back'?" Sami clarified.

"I don't want Jane back." EJ denied.

"Yes you do!" Sami insisted stubbornly.

"I don't!" EJ insisted just as stubbornly their faces inches apart from each other.

The knock on the door startled Sami causing her to fall over onto EJ's chest. The door opened as they both struggled to untangle themselves.

"Oh, I didn't mean to interrupt." Jane apologized blushing while backing out of the room to close the door.

"No wait!" Sami cried out slightly muffled as she fell back onto EJ's chest as one of his arms suspiciously wrapped around her pulling her to him in a loving embrace.

"What do you want?" EJ asked not looking at Jane.

"Let me up EJ!" Sami ordered and he complied grudgingly. By the time she was back on her feet she looked so flushed and messy that it gave the impression that they had been making love just moments before.

"Did you need something?" Sami graciously asked Jane. EJ stayed sprawled on the bed with his hands behind his head, sporting an innocent expression. She tamped down the urge to hit him with a pillow.

"Your suitcases arrived and I thought you might like to change into something more comfortable." Jane said awkwardly just as Derrick carried the suitcases in and set them by the door.

"Thank you!" Sami said gratefully just as EJ replied at the same time "Damn, here I was trying to keep her clothes off and you show up with more to put on."

"EJ!" Sami cried out mortified, blushing madly. What was EJ trying to do?

"Well you'd better make it fast because we have dinner reservations at Masa's in an hour." Derrick said over his shoulder as he ushered Jane out the door and closed it.

"You made them think we're…. you know…" Sami trailed off making gestures with her hands.

"Which is what two people are expected to do when they are engaged." EJ said with faux innocent.

"Yes but you're forgetting that I'm engaged to Austin…Oh my god Austin, how am I going to explain this to him?" Sami asked just as her cell rang on cue. She rushed to her purse and looked at the caller ID. "It's Austin!" She said panicked looking at her phone as if it was a snake.

"So you'd better answer it." EJ said dryly.

"You're no help!" Sami complained. "Hi Austin!" She answer cheerfully hoping her nervousness wouldn't show.

Hi Sami, I just wanted to make sure you got into NY ok.

"Yes, we made it here in one piece." Sami confirmed.

I tried to call you at the hotel but the front said that you and EJ had checked out.

"We left the hotel because they only had one room with one bed and no other rooms were available. Luckily, EJ's family has an apartment in Upper Eastside so we're going to stay here instead."

That's great! It'll be a lot nicer then staying at a hotel.

"Ummm there is something I have to tell you though… ummmm well EJ's ex and brother are here and well…"

EJ grabbed the phone from her. "Austin, EJ here, Sami is helping me out on a personal matter. My ex and brother are under the impression that Sami and I are engaged and frankly, due to reasons I'd rather not explain, I would like to keep them thinking that. I know it's asking a lot but it would be a personal favor to me if you'd allow this charade to continue."

"Considering I owe you for not telling Lucas and Sami about Carrie and me, if it's ok with Sami, it's fine with me. Can you put her back on the line?"

"He wants to speak to you." EJ said handing Sami the phone.

"Austin, I swear it's completely innocent, are you mad?" Sami asked worriedly.

"Why would I be mad? I think it's sweet that you're willing to help EJ out. You're ok with this right?"

"Yeah, EJ's really been there for me and it's nice to be able to return the favor as long as it's ok with you." Sami said relieved.

"It's ok with me, I trust both of you. EJ's a good guy. Well anyways, Mom told me that she got the dates mixed up and the Basic Black swimsuit launch isn't until next week. But since you're already there, a men's wear company called J&D is asking if EJ is available to launch their upscale corporate wear line. I'm sending the details to your e-mail. I think you can handle this on your own but call me if you want me to fly up."

"Ok Austin, I'll look over the details and let you know." Sami replied a little disappointed.

"Goodnight, Sami, and tell EJ that this deal is a great opportunity.

"Goodnight Austin!" Sami replied pensively hung up the phone.

"You're disappointed that he didn't put up more of a protest?" EJ asked reading Sami's mood.

"I'm glad that he trusts me and all but don't you think he should have been a little, I don't know, less understanding?" Sami asked.

"It's a good thing Samantha; it just proves that he trusts you and the strength of your relationship." EJ reassured her.

"It's just that I'm going to be pretending to be someone else's fiancée for two weeks and all he could talk about was a possible new client." Sami said a little peeved.

"I thought we were only going to be here for a week?" EJ asked confused.

"Kate 'accidentally';" Sami said using air quotes, "mixed up the swimsuit launch date so it's not until next week. Austin wants us to stay up here because a company called J&D wants you to launch their new line of corporate wear." Sami said as she pulled out her laptop. "Austin said he e-mailed me the data."

"Don't bother." EJ said stopping her. "I'm sure Derrik and Jane will be happy to fill us in during dinner."

"Why would… oh, it's their company?" Sami guessed.

"I was wondering why they didn't seem too surprised to see me." EJ said his eyes flashing dangerously.